They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People in power often struggle to see their true selves due to constant praise from those around them.
Calvin Coolidge's quote highlights the tendency of individuals in positions of authority to fall into the trap of self-delusion. Because they are surrounded by those who admire and praise them, they may lose touch with reality and their true capabilities, leading to a distorted perception of their greatness.
Themes
Self-DelusionLeadershipPraisePowerGreatness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership qualities, this quote can remind us to stay grounded.
More from Calvin Coolidge
All quotes →America's present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
No method of procedure has ever been devised by which liberty could be divorced from local self-government. No plan of centralization has ever been adopted which did not result in bureaucracy, tyranny, inflexibility, reaction, and decline.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so important as whether his Americanism of today is real and genuine. No matter by what various crafts we came here, we are all now in the same boat.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
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